News of the Week

In science news around the world this week, the wreckage of a Twin Otter aircraft that went missing in the Antarctic was found near a mountain summit, the polio virus has spread from Pakistan to Egypt, the U.S.-based mission to Whillans Ice Stream is a success, and more.

Biotechnologist Hayat Sindi is one of the first 30 women to be appointed to Saudi Arabia's 150-member Shura Council, which advises the government on science and technology; this year's Japan Prizes go to research at the bottom of the sea and wizardry in semiconductor clean rooms; and the National Institutes of Health is losing a champion in the U.S. Senate.

A NASA scientific balloon has broken the record for the longest-flying balloon of its size, and U.S. voters who self-identify as independent may be swayed by short-term temperature fluctuations when it comes to whether they believe humans are causing climate change.

About The Cover

COVER Detail of a "wiring diagram" showing long-distance neural connections between major regions of the macaque brain. This visualization provides guidance for connecting multiple computer chips into a brainlike network. This diagram was awarded first place in the illustration category in the 2012 Science/NSF International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge. The winning entries are featured in a special section starting on page 509 and at www.sciencemag.org/special/vis2012. Illustration: Emmett McQuinn, Pallab Datta, Myron D. Flickner, William P. Risk, Dharmendra S. Modha/IBM Research - Almaden